Johnson rescues Rattlers
July 22, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
FOX CITIES STADIUM -- Brent Johnson singled in the winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning to give the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers a 7-6 victory over the Clinton LumberKings on Friday night. The Rattlers had a 6-4 lead with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, but an error allowed two runs to score and the LumberKings to tie the game. Johnson had a pair of singles, a pair of RBI, and is currently on an eleven game hitting streak.
Clinton (50-48 overall, 12-16 second half) broke the scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning. An RBI single by Ben Harrison and a sacrifice fly by Jim Fasano put the LumberKings up 2-0.
Wisconsin (53-45, 14-14) got one run back on a two-out RBI double by Brandon Green in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game.
The Rattlers would take the lead with a three run fifth inning. Oswaldo Navarro drove in the tying run with a double. Brent Johnson extended his hitting streak with an RBI single to put the Rattlers in front 3-2. Johnson would steal second and score on an RBI single by Yung Chi Chen.
Brandon Boggs pulled the LumberKings to within a run on a leadoff home run in the top of the sixth inning.
Navarro padded the Wisconsin lead to 5-3 with an RBI single in the sixth. Later in the inning he stole second and scored on an RBI single by Chen for a 6-3 advantage.
Santiago hit the first batter of the seventh inning. He struck out Tug Hulett looking and got Billy Susdorf to ground into an inning ending double play. Santiago allowed only three runs on eight hits and struck out four to put him in line for his third win. But, it was not to be.
The LumberKings got a run off reliever Steve Grasley in the top of the eighth inning on three hits. The final hit was a two-out RBI single by Craig Hurba. Jon Lockwood entered the game and got out of the eighth. But, he could not get out of the ninth.
Lockwood walked three and struck out one in the top of the ninth. Eric O'Flaherty entered the game with the bases loaded and one out. He promptly struck out Emerson Frostad for the second out and got ahead of Harrison 0-2. Harrison sent a slow grounder to short that got under Matt Tuiasosopo's glove for an error and the tying runs scored.
The winning rally started with a leadoff walk to Colton. Navarro dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the winning run into scoring position. Johnson worked the count to 3-2 before lining a single into center. Colton beat the throw home and the Rattlers got the win.
The Timber Rattlers and LumberKings meet in game three of the series on Saturday night. Ivan Blanco (2-2, 7.53ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Clinton will counter with Kea Kometani (0-0, 3.38). Game time is 7:05pm.
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